The Official Rube Goldberg Machine Contest®
About the RGMC®
The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest® (RGMC) is a challenge of creativity, ingenuity, and teamwork all rolled into one! The ultimate problem-based-learning STEM competition that pits teams against each other to create a whimsical Rube Goldberg Machine built from everyday objects that solves a common, simple task in the most ridiculous way possible.
Join the RGMC®
How to Participate
- FORM A TEAM: 1 to 15 members per team (plus one designated Coach).
- REGISTER: All teams will be assigned a Regional Host location once registered.
- DESIGN & BUILD: See the rulebook for specifications.
- COMPETE AT A REGIONAL CONTEST: None nearby? Then Host Your Own!
- MOVE ONTO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: ALL teams who compete at ANY Regional event are allowed to attend the WC-RGMC®
Current USA Host Locations:
- Arizona (Mesa) - EVIT Engineering
- California (Los Angeles) - Makersville Services
- California (Truckee) - Wild River School
- Connecticut (Greenwich) - Arch Street
- Illinois (Champaign) - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Indiana (Batesville) - Genesis Pathways to Success
- Massachusetts (Waltham) - Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
- New Hampshire (Durham) - Young Inventor's Program
- New Hampshire (Manchester) - SEE Science Center
- New Jersey (Jersey City) - Liberty Science Center
- New York (Bronx) - Fieldston School
- New York (Mineola) - Mineola UFSD
- Pennsylvania (Allentown) - Da Vinci Science Center
- Pennsylvania (Elizabethville) - Lykens Valley Children's Museum
- Texas (Beaumont) - Beaumont ISD
- Vermont (South Burlington) - Young Inventor's Program
- *Vermont (St. Johnsbury) - Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
- Washington DC - National Building Museum
Current International Host Locations:
- Republic of Korea (Incheon) - Wonderland Korea
- Italy (Pavia) - Cosmic Shop
- England (Ripley) - Ripley Primary School
- Phillipines (Iligen) - Fab Lab Mindanao
- Australia (Brisbane) - HLG STEAMist Education
- China (Zhuhai) - Zhuhai Oriental Yinghua Academy
- UAE (Abu Dhabi) - Bateen World Academy
2026 World Championship RGMC® Information
- Indiana (Lafayette) - Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds
- Saturday, May 16th, 2025 - All teams will receive additional planning information regarding the WC-RGMC® only after registering for a Regional/International Contest
For information on how to host a Regional qualifier, visit our hosting page.
Scoring Criteria
Teams are scored by a panel of Judges and Referees. Judges score subjectively (based on personal opinions) while Referees score objectively (based on facts), with the points averaged & tallied to determine a winner. But be careful - Penalties do exist & should be avoided!
Rube Goldberg Alumni: Where Are You Now?
Reconnecting with past inventors, builders, and dreamers of the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. If you've ever participated in the RGMC®, we want to hear from you! Fill out the survey & stay connected!
Copyright Notice and Legal Disclaimer: The 2026 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest® rulebook, including all rules, regulations, as well as the official 2026 annual task, is protected under copyright law, with all rights reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or duplication of the rulebook, annual task, or its contents is strictly prohibited and WILL be subject to legal action.
Past Winners & Inspiration
Thank you to our partners/sponsors!
